Socioecological Predicament on Global Steeply Sloped Cropland

Abstract

Mountains cover approximately a quarter of the land surface of the planet and are home to 13% of the world's population, that is, approximately 900 million people (FAO, 2015). Mountains are strategically important for supporting the earth's biodiversity and providing indispensable goods (Körner, 2004;Viviroli et al., 2020;Wehrli, 2014). However, they are also deemed the most sensitive regions in the world, being confronted with climate change, widespread land degradation, nature resource overexploitation, and disasters such as landslides and mudslides (

Is marginalised cultivated land on the Tibetan Plateau suitable for production or ecology? An example from the northeastern Tibetan Plateau

“…Marginalised cultivated land tends to have thin layers of soil with low fertility, requiring large quantities of chemical fertilisers and pesticides to sustain the growth of crops (Tan et al, 2021; L. Wang, Xu, et al, 2023). The application of chemical fertilisers and pesticides negatively affects the quality of soil and water sources and may lead to land degradation and ecosystem destruction.…”

“…Marginalised cultivated land tends to have thin layers of soil with low fertility, requiring large quantities of chemical fertilisers and pesticides to sustain the growth of crops (Tan et al, 2021;L. Wang, Xu, et al, 2023).…”

“…Cultivated land, a valuable resource for production, supports the national economy and social development via economic output, social security, psychological utility and food security strategies (Liang et al, 2021; T. Liu & Chen, 2020; L. Wang, Xu, et al, 2023). During rapid industrialisation and urbanisation, land use changes may marginalise the utilisation efficiency of cultivated land (Y. H. Wang, Li, et al, 2020).…”